Workshops to explain Common Core math to parents

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District is planning workshops over the next two months to help parents understand the ways Common Core is changing their children’s math homework.

Curriculum changes as a result of the newly implemented state standards have left many parents struggling to help their children with school work, especially math, district officials say.

Common Core, which is being used widely in school districts across California, including Newport-Mesa, emphasizes real-life applications of classroom material and encourages students to think critically.

Parents have expressed difficulty understanding Swun Math, a new teaching method, and associated curricula named after the teacher who designed it. The district began implementing the method last school year.

With Swun Math, students are asked to use visual methods to explain how they discovered the answer to a problem.

Newport-Mesa teachers have been developing course curricula in math and English-language arts for kindergarten through high school classes for the past two years in compliance with the new state standards.

The workshops, which will be hosted at various elementary schools, will explain the Swun Math model, Common Core strategies and online resources for parents.

The district has already held meetings at Victoria, Adams, Wilson and Paularino elementary schools. Parents who missed those meetings are invited to attend other sessions at their convenience.

Rea, Lincoln, College Park, Mariners, Pomona, Newport Heights, Whittier and Harbor View elementary schools will host meetings in November and December. For a complete schedule of meeting times, visit web.nmusd.us